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Heartland Region Boys Early Season Rankings 2024Published by
Heartland Region Feels Wide Open, But Top Three Teams Should Remain Near The Top Again By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor Boys NXR Heartland Preview The top three teams in the Heartland region the past two years are likely to be there at Yankton Trails battling for Nike Cross Nationals berths again. Wayzata MN, which finished 18th at NXN last year, has a low stick with Will Weber and one of the most consistent pipelines of talented runners in the country. That reputation will be put to the test this year as the team tries to rebuild the heart of its lineup. The upcoming Roy Griak Invitational will bring all three teams together on Sept. 20. That meet will bring into much clearer focus what the pecking order is in the Heartland. The meet will be broadcast live on RunnerSpace. Dowling Catholic of West Des Moines, Iowa, has been chipping away at an NXN berth the past couple years and may have what it takes to land in the top two this fall, led by senior Jack Flori. The past two seasons, as Buffalo Road Track Club, the team finished one spot out in third. Wisconsin's dominant team, Stevens Point, finished 16th at NXN last year. Four runners on that team are coming back, led by senior Ethan Olds. While the top teams develop over the season, there is no guessing who the top individuals are. The top three from 2023, Robert Mechura of Roseville Area MN, Manny Putz from Onalaska WI and Juan Gonzalez from Fremont NE were separated by less than two seconds last year on the Yankton Trails course in South Dakota. They are three of the top runners nationwide this fall. 1. Wayzata MN. There is no clear favorite in the Heartland region this fall and Wayzata's status as the team to beat is due to its large numbers and the return of Will Weber to lead the team. Only Weber, seniors Alex Haag and Dan Salatino are due back from last year's second place NXR Heartland team. There are five guys in the stable who ran between 4:15 and 4:32 in the 1,600 meters last spring, which is slightly better than the other teams in the top five. The next in line will need to step up and that's seniors Hudson McMillan and Matthew Adams and junior Connor Viera. The margins among the top three teams on the list are thin. 2. Dowling Catholic IA. This group is highly motivated to break through after finished third the past two years at NXR Heartland. Both times, the team competing as Buffalo Road Track Club was not extended an at-large berth to nationals. This year, with its 2-3-5-7 guys back, Dowling Catholic should be in the mix again, not only for the Iowa Class 4A title but also a possible NXN berth. Senior Jack Flori leads the way and is joined by classmates Owen Wolfe and Josh Mohan and junior Nicholas Paulsen. 3. Stevens Point WI. Team leader Aloysius Franzen has graduated and moved on to the University of Minnesota, so a third straight trip to Nike Cross Nationals is no longer a sure thing. SPASH returns four from last year's NXN, which is valuable experience. Those four, senior Ethan Olds, junior Cooper Erickson and seniors Graham Ballard and Andrew Dziak, give this team a foundation. There is no shortage of viable candidates moving up from the JV ranks to shore up the lineup. Sophomore John Jazdzewski and seniors Matt Frank, Tyce Xiong and Sam Manthey are likely to fill out the team. 4. Edina MN. The Hornets return their seven fastest runners from 2023 and have the roster necessary to take a big leap forward from last year's ninth-place finish at the NXR Heartland. Senior Jace Haerter is the team's top performer but there is a lot of help behind him with junior Sander Ohe and senior Zachary Danielson at the second and third spots. Seniors Benjamin Boudewyns, Kevin Nybeck and Torger Ohe also return to the lineup. The Hornets put all seven varsity runners in the top 19 of the recent Brave Like Gabe Invitational. 5. Sioux Falls Lincoln SD. The South Dakota champions earn a top-five spot by virtue of returning the top five intact. The Patriots' top five performers in the 1,600 and 3,200 are comparable to other teams ahead of them on this list. Junior Miles Lechtenberg leads the way and won the Mack Butler Invitational last week. Seniors Joseph Levesque, Nathan Thompson and Aemil Nelsen and sophomore Tyus Needles are the other key runners. The top 14 runners from last year, based on time, are all eligible to return this fall. WATCHLIST More news |
